Ham Fish blames Reds, does not regret defeat
Says he waged his strongest fight
Albany, New York (UP) –
Rep. Hamilton Fish Jr., veteran member of Congress and pre-Pearl Harbor isolationist, was defeated for reelection in the 29th Congressional district by Augustus W. Bennet, Democratic and American Labor Party candidate, practically complete returns showed today.
Mr. Bennet had approximately a 5,000-vote lead over Mr. Fish who conceded his defeat, and blamed Communist propaganda.
Mr. Fish said:
I admit, publicly, that my defeat should be largely credited to Communistic and Red forces from New York City backed by a large slush fund probably exceeding $250,000. This slush fund and propaganda had no effect where I was known in Orange County but did succeed in deceiving the people in the three new counties [of the reapportioned district].
I have no regrets whatever as I waged the strongest fight that I knew how.
The one-time isolationist leader and long-time adversary of President Roosevelt said that he was “fearful that the overwhelming election of President Roosevelt is at step toward setting up one-man and one-party government in our own country.